Sinn Féin - On Your Side

Special Criminal Court must be closed

Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called for the
immediate closure of the Special Criminal Court. He was speaking after two
republicans were convicted of IRA membership on the word of a Garda
Superintendent. Deputy Ó Snodaigh described the conviction as an unsafe
judgement which mirrored the worst excesses of the Diplock Court system in
the Six Counties.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh said:

"There is huge outrage and anger that once again we have seen people
convicted of IRA membership, not on any evidence, but on the word of a Garda
Superintendent. This case should never have gone before the Special
Criminal Court in the first place and it is incredible that during the case
secret evidence was given to the Judge, which was not disclosed to the
defence. This is an unsafe judgement which mirrored the worst excesses of
the Diplock Court system in the Six Counties.

"Sinn Féin has consistently raised the issue of emergency powers and indeed
the abuse of emergency powers. It is worth noting that ten years into the
peace process, we have seen at least some progress in the north on the issue
of criminal justice but we have seen no progress in the south.

"The Special Criminal Court is entirely unacceptable and should be closed
down."ENDS